Surgery For Cervical Cancer
Before surgery for cervical cancer, you have tests to check your fitness, and you meet members of your treatment team. You usually go into hospital on the morning of your operation. Most people are in hospital for between 2 and 4 days after surgery.
Your pre assessment appointment prepares you for your operation. This usually happens in the 2 weeks before your surgery.
At your appointment the pre assessment team may:
ask you questions about your health and any medicines you are taking
tell you when to stop eating and drinking before your operation
tell you if you need to stop taking any medicines before the operation
check your weight, blood pressure, pulse and temperature
ask what help and support you have at home
The pre assessment team will tell you how to prepare for your operation. What you need to do depends on what operation you are having.
They may also give you a leaflet about breathing and leg exercises to do after your operation. This is to help prevent chest infections and blood clots.
It helps to write down any questions you have and take them with you. The more you know about what is going to happen, the less frightening it will seem. You can ask more questions when you go into hospital so don’t worry if you forget to ask some.
Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) Programme
The pre assessment team might tell you about the Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) Programme. This is for people having a big operation and is to help you recover quicker. It starts before you have your operation and continues for a short time after you have gone home.
For example, they might give you carbohydrate drinks to have before your operation. How many drinks you have depends on what brand of drink the hospital uses. And when you have them depends on what time of day your operation is.
After your operation your nurses will encourage you to do breathing exercises. They will help you with getting out of bed and walking as soon as you can. And start you eating and drinking as soon as possible. This depends on the type of operation you’ve had. But your doctor will tell you when you are ready to do this.
You have tests before your operation to check:
you are well enough to have an operation and anaesthetic
that you’ll make a good recovery from surgery
The tests you have depend on what operation you are having and any other health conditions you have. You might have some or all of the following tests:
blood tests to check the level of and how well your kidneys are working
a swab test to rule out some infections
an (electrocardiogram) or (echocardiogram) to check that your heart is healthy - some people might have both
breathing tests (called lung function tests)
a chest x-ray to check that your lungs are healthy
a
The pre operative assessment team will explain what these tests are for and how to prepare for them. You might have these tests as part of your pre operative assessment appointment. Sometimes you have them at a separate appointment.
A member of the surgical team will tell you about:
the operation you are going to have
the benefits of having surgery
the possible risks
what to expect afterwards
The anaesthetist gives you the anaesthetic and they look after you during the operation. The anaesthetic is the medicine that keeps you asleep during your operation. They make sure you’re fit enough for the surgery.
Your specialist nurse is usually there to support you throughout your treatment. They can check what help and support you have, to see what you will need when you go home.
The physiotherapist assesses how well you can move around. They let the doctors know if there is anything that could affect your recovery.
The physiotherapist also teaches you leg and breathing exercises to do after your operation to help with recovery. Learning how to do the exercises beforehand makes it easier afterwards.
The dietitian gives you help and advice about managing your diet. They:
help you get as well as possible before your operation
explain how the surgery affects your diet
give useful tips on how to increase your nutrients and calories
They might give you nutritional supplement drinks to have before surgery.
Some people need a feeding tube in their stomach or small bowel. This makes sure you get the nutrition you need before your surgery.
Breathing exercises help to stop you from getting a chest infection after surgery. If you smoke, it helps if you can stop at least a few weeks before your operation.
Leg exercises help to stop blood clots forming in your legs. You might also have medicines to stop the blood from clotting. You have them as small injections under the skin.
You start the injections after your operation. You might also wear anti embolism stockings or have pumps on your calves to help the circulation.
Your nurse and physiotherapist will get you up out of bed quite quickly after your surgery. This is to help prevent chest infections and blood clots forming.
This 3-minute video shows you how to do the breathing and leg exercises.
You will probably go into hospital on the day of your operation. Most people are in hospital for between 2 and 4 days. The length of your stay depends on the type of operation you have and your recovery.
Take in:
nightgowns or pyjamas
underwear
dressing gown
slippers
contact lenses, solution, glasses and a case
wash bag with soap, a flannel or sponge, toothbrush and toothpaste etc
sanitary wear or tampons
towel
small amount of money
medicines you normally take
magazines, books, playing cards
headphones and music to listen to
a tablet or smartphone for web browsing, entertainment and phone calls
chargers for electronic devices
a copy of your last clinic letter (if you have one)
Before you go into hospital, it might be worth checking:
whether the ward is allowing visitors
if they have set visiting times
the best number for friends and family to phone, to find out how you are
The letter you receive before your operation may contain this information. But if not, you can phone the ward or hospital reception to find out.
You can use your mobile phone in hospital. But there may be some time before and after your operation when you won’t have your mobile nearby. And you may not feel like talking.
It’s worth sorting out a few things before you go into hospital. These might include:
taking time off work
care for children or other loved ones
care for your pets
care for your house
cancelling your milk, newspapers or food deliveries
Last reviewed: 27 Oct 2023
Next review due: 27 Oct 2026
You have a general anaesthetic so you can't feel anything during the operation. This sends you into a deep sleep.
After surgery to remove your cervix or womb, most people can go back to normal activities after a few weeks, but it can take up to 3 months to fully recover.
Surgery is one of the main treatments for cervical cancer. Surgery might include removing most of the cervix (radical trachelectomy) or the womb (radical hysterectomy). Some people might have a pelvic exenteration for advanced cancer.
Your treatment depends on several factors. These include what type of cervical cancer you have, how big it is, whether it has spread (the stage) and the grade. It also depends on your general health.
Cervical cancer is when abnormal cells in the lining of the cervix grow in an uncontrolled way. The cervix is part of the female reproductive system.
About Cancer generously supported by Dangoor Education since 2010. Learn more about Dangoor Education
What to ask your doctor about clinical trials.
Meet and chat to other cancer people affected by cancer.
Questions about cancer? Call freephone 0808 800 40 40 from 9 to 5 - Monday to Friday. Alternatively, you can email us.
